Nebraska coach Matt Rhule has done everything in his power to seek another year of eligibility for Huskers defensive back Deshon Singleton, even asking the NCAA for leniency after his senior’s redshirt burned against Michigan amid the Wolverines’ sign-stealing scandal.
Michigan coach Sherrone Moore faces NCAA punishment and a possible suspension stemming from a Level 2 violation after investigators determined he allegedly deleted text messages from ex-Wolverines staffer Connor Stalions. The violation could result in a show-cause penalty for Moore, whose reported entanglement with the alleged sign-stealer sparked negative reaction across college football.
“What happened with Deshon is obviously he went to junior college and then came here and played four games, and then one play against Michigan. I petitioned to the NCAA because obviously, everything that happened against Michigan last year seems like there is some cloak of whatever,” Rhule said Monday, via Husker247. “He got cracked on a run play. Did they know it was a run play? Or is that game going to count in a couple of years, so I thought he shouldn’t have gotten penalized for one play in a game in my mind that’s not even a real game.
“The NCAA disagreed, so he did not get that year back. With that being said, I think Deshon would probably have that year and say, ‘Coach, thanks a lot I’m going to take my talents to the next level’ because I think he’s doing a really good job, but I wanted him to do that. Academically he could use that year to finish his degree so I thought he deserved that but the NCAA disagreed.”
NCAA investigators determined Stalions removed computer hard drives from the Michigan football offices in October 2023 and gave a Wolverines player a sheet of opponent play calls, in addition to being disguised as a Central Michigan staffer during a game last season against Michigan State.
Stalions resigned in November 2023 after the retired United States Marine Corps captain and purported leader of Michigan’s scouting operation was tabbed as the ringleader of the Wolverines’ sign-stealing campaign.
Stalions served as an analyst with the Wolverines for three seasons under Harbaugh. He was suspended with pay on Oct. 20, 2023, one day after the NCAA began its investigation into allegations Michigan was engaged in impermissible scouting of opponents.
Sign-stealing is not a violation of NCAA rules, but “off-campus, in-person scouting of future opponents (in the same season) is prohibited,” per NCAA bylaw 11.6.1. Stalions reportedly purchased tickets for dozens of Big Ten games, which he would allegedly pay third parties to attend and film opponents’ sidelines to help his role of picking up opponents’ signs.
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